Alternative to HOMEGROUPS ? or Am i getting it wrong ?

[niraj trehan]

Hey friends , please provide me with correct software or any tweaks if they might help my cause.

Here is a situation.
I m having 2 Laptops at home. Both of them connected to same network (A router), so i used Homegroups to share files over my laptops. They worked fine ! Now a query.

When on move , how can i have access to files on my one laptop from the other ie can i use homegroups without my laptops connected to same router ? ie if i dont have a router how can i access files over computers?

Another problem which is very irritating is that Mostly i get a notification of my homegroup /network profile to be public , and it says for homegroups it has to be private , and i simply dont know how to swtcih it to private !!! PLZ HELP ME OUT ON THIS PROBLEM

I need it bcz at times , when at hostel , its a easier thing , and obviously reduces the jinx of Pen drives and all.

I have tried Connectify... anything anyone wants to add ?? plzzz

 

[sksundram]

For your first query you can always use a cat 5/6 cable to share b/w them.

 

[niraj trehan]

For your first query you can always use a cat 5/6 cable to share b/w them.

I think carrying a cable is not desired wise choice when both the devices have wifi between them.So there must be WLAN sharing which can be achieved .

 

[Harsh Pranami]

Create an ad hoc on one of the laptops and access it from the other. You won't require an external wifi router for this. But the better option is carrying an rj 45 cable. It offers more stability and far greater speeds.

 

[niraj trehan]

Create an ad hoc on one of the laptops and access it from the other. You won't require an external wifi router for this. But the better option is carrying an rj 45 cable. It offers more stability and far greater speeds.

creating adhoc networks on win8 is yet another problem mate :/

 

[sksundram]

I suggested you the cable option because the file transfer is fastest. For occasional transfers, use connectify hotspot to create the ad hoc mode(which you are already using). And setting private is simple. Just fiddle through homegroup settings and you will find it.

 

[bssunilreddy]

This is how you can do it:

How to share folders without homegroups in Windows 7

Transfer files between different versions of Windows

*cdn3.pcadvisor.co.uk/cmsdata/features/3434911/folder.jpg
*cdn2.pcadvisor.co.uk/cmsdata/features/3434911/folder_thumb160.jpg You typically need to go through several steps to make the conventional sharing feature work.

Related Articles

• How to create a HomeGroup network in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Share files at home using HomeGroup
• How to use Windows 7 HomeGroups
• Share documents around the home
• How to Set Up Your Network for PCs and Macs

The homegroup function of Windows 7, while convenient, is by far not everybody's cup of tea. It is neither compatible with older Windows versions or Linux, nor does it give access to certain system-wide folders. Here's how you can share folders with the old, but trusty Network Sharing Settings.
With the introduction of homegroups in Windows 7, setting up a home network has become much easier. While this is a great and comfortable feature for Windows 7 PCs, it unfortunately doesn't work with older versions of Windows or Linux at all, forcing users to resort the the conventional Network Sharing Settings. Ironically, these have become somewhat more complicated in return and tend to impede users with one error message after another as to why even simple file transfers aren't possible. No need to rack your brain over these issues however - here's how you can properly enable the sharing feature in three steps and keep track of your shared folders.
Note: Make sure that you are using a NAT-Router (applies to most any router) as a medium to access the internet if you wish to use this method. Otherwise, you might release your files not only to your local network, but to the whole internet. Also, make sure to check that all PCs in the network are using the same workgroup. This might also be of interest: How to create homegroups in Windows 7 and 8
1. Sharing a folder in a network

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Conventionally, you can most easily clear folders or drives for network use in Windows 7 with these steps:

1. 1. Right-click on the folder/drive that you wish the share and select “Properties”.
2. 2. Select the tab “Sharing” and click on “Advanced Sharing...”
3. 3. Tick the box “Share this folder” and enter a a share name for it.
4. 4. Click on permissions, mark the group entry “Everyone” and configure the network permissions for this folder in the lower field according to your requirements. If you just want to release your files for copying, allowing “Read” is usually enough.

2. Setting the right permissions

*cdn3.pcadvisor.co.uk/cmsdata/features/3434911/sharing2.jpg
More often than not, you will also have to configure the user entry “Everybody” with the desired rights before it can be used properly for shared folders. To do so,

1. 1. Right-click on the folder/drive in question and select “Properties” again.
2. 2. This time, switch to the tab “Security” and click on “Edit...”, followed by “Add...”.
3. 3. In this window, enter “Everybody” into the empty field at the bottom and click on “OK”.
4. 4. Take a quick look at the permissions for “Everybody” and make sure they are all set correctly. If everything is in order, close all windows with “OK”.

3. Deactivating password-protected sharing

*cdn3.pcadvisor.co.uk/cmsdata/features/3434911/sharing25.jpg
At this point, we're nearly done. Typically, if you take a look into your network drop-down menu in the left panel of the “Computer” directory, you will see the names of all other systems connected to your network. Trying to access them is usually rather straightforward, but often ends with a password confirmation prompt. To disable that,

1. 1. Summon your control panel and open the “Network and Sharing Center”.
2. 2. Click on “Change advanced sharing settings.
3. 3. Look for your active profile at the top, expand it (if it isn't already) and scroll down to the option “Password protected sharing”.
4. 4. Tick the option “Turn off password protected sharing” and click on “Save changes”. Be advised that this will make all shared folders readily accessible for anyone inside your home network.
   

Tip: To make double sure that your router (and by extension your folders) aren't vulnerable from the outside, pay your router configuration menu a visit and close the ports 445, 139, 138 and 137 manually, if they happen to be open.
Also take a look at: Extend your Wi-Fi Network
Tracking shared folders and files

*cdn3.pcadvisor.co.uk/cmsdata/features/3434911/sharing3.jpg
Now that you have set up some shared folders, you can easily monitor them with a built-in Windows tool. To open it, hold down the Windows-key + R and type “fsmgmt.msc” into the prompt. This will open the “Shared Folders” window. Look on the left side for the entry “Shares” and click on it to get a convenient list of all your shared folders. By default, this also includes all directories for the administrator of the system (marked by a $ symbol, such as D$), so there's no need to be confused by that.
You can also get an overview of who is currently using your shared folders by clicking on the entry “Open files” to the left. Unfortunately, this list will be deleted upon exiting the sharing manager. To save the 'evidence', you can make a text backup of it by opening the menu point “Action” and clicking on “Export List”.

Read more: How to share folders without homegroups in Windows 7 - PC Advisor
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